Sheet applying process



Oct. 23, 1962 w. KAUER 3,060,077

SHEET APPLYING PROCESS Filed Aug. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 )MW/d W $0MOct. 23, 1962 w, KAUER 3,060,077

' SHEET APPLYING PROCESS 7 Filed Aug. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Oct. 23, 1962 w. KAUER SHEET APPLYING PROCESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug.. 29, 1958 Oct. 23, 1962- w. KAUER SHEET APPLYING PROCESS 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 29, 1958 Oct. 23, 1962 w, KAUER 3,060,077

SHEET APPLYING PROCESS Filed Aug. 29, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 UnitedStates Patent 3,050,977 SHEET APPLYING PROCESS Walter Kauer, Zurich,Switzerland, assignor to Meynadier & Cie AG, Zurich, Switzerland, acorporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 758,012 2Claims. (Cl. 156-322) The present invention relates to a process andapparatus for applying a sheet to a surface to be covered thereby.

The process and apparatus of the present invention are used, forexample, in the roofing industry for applying a sheet of roofing paperto a surface to be covered by such sheet. Such a surface may be theupper surface of a sheet of paper or the like already applied to a roof,for example, and a suitable adhesive joins the sheets together. At thepresent time, however, it is difiicult to apply a sheet of this type insuch a manner that it will reliably adhere to the desired extent and atthe desired locations to the surface which it covers. Because ofnonuniform cooling of the adhesive there are invariably places where thesheet should but does not adhere to the surface which it covers.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a process andapparatus which will apply a sheet to a surface in such a way that thesheet will reliably adhere to the surface at least at predeterminedportions of the sheet and surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device whichwill reliably press a roll of the sheet to be applied to a given surfaceagainst the surface while the sheet is being unrolled onto the same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a process andapparatus which will reliably heat a surface t portion of a sheet and aportion of the surface to be contacted by the surface portion of thesheet immediately prior to the joining of these surface portions to eachother.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a devicewhich automatically maintains a heating means at a predeterminedposition with respect to a roll of a sheet during the time that thesheet is being unrolled and the roll thickness is decreasing in such away that the distance between the heating means and the exterior surfaceof the roll remains substantially unchanged during unrolling of thesheet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a devicewhich will automatically limit the heating of the sheet to predeterminedareas thereof which are spaced from each other both longitudinally andtransversely of the sheet.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the above type with a means which will press the sheet against thesurface to be covered thereby immediately after the sheet has beenapplied to the surface.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device of theabove type which can easily be adjusted so as to be capable of beingoperated comfortably by any operator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe above type which is self-contained in the sense that it includeswithin itself all of the required components such as the sheet to beapplied to the surface to be covered as well as a source of heat whichsupplies a heating medium to a heating means which heats the sheet.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a structurecapable of accomplishing all of the above objects and at the same timecomposed of simple ruggedly constructed elements which are very reliablein operation.

With the above objects in view the present invention includes, in aprocess for applying to a surface to be covered a sheet which adheresthereto, the steps of simultaneonsly heating a portion of a sheet and aportion of a surface to be covered thereby just before these portionscome into contact with each other.

Also, with the above objects in View the present invention includes, ina device for applying to a surface to be covered a sheet which adheresthereto, a carriage means which is movable along the surface to becovered and a roll carrying means turnably carried by the carriage meansfor supporting a roll of the sheet which is to cover the above surfacein a position where the roll directly engages the surface to be coveredto be unrolled :onto the same during movement of the carriage means onthis surface. A heating means is carried by the carriage means forheating the sheet which is unrolled onto the surface to be covered.

The novel features which are considered as character- .--istic for theinvention are set forth in particularin the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 asseen from the left of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional illustration of a rollcarrying means according to the present invention;

FIG, 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the manner in which the rollcarrying means is connected with the carriage means;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the lineVl-VI of FIGS. 2 and 7 in the direction of the arrows showing how aheating means is removably connected with the device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary axialpartly sectional view of one end of aheating means shown connected with the carriage means;

FIG. 8 shows the structure of FIG. 7 with the end of the heating meansdisconnected;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the releasable lockmeans used in the part of the device illustrated in FIGS. 6-8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view ,on. an enlarged scale of thestructure shown atv the lower left of FIG. 1, FIG. 10 illustrating thedetails of a pressing means which presses a sheet against the surfacecovered thereby.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the carriage means of the present inventionis generally designated with the reference character 1 and includes aframework of metal tubes and bars which are Welded together, forexample. This framework includes an outer frame made up of a horizontallower frame portion 2 and a pair of hollow rigid tubes 3 located atopposite sides of the carriage means 1 and extending upwardly andforwardly from the front end of the lower frame portion 2. This lowerframe por-' tion 2 carries a rear vertical frame member 4 ofsubstantially U-shaped configuration having a top cross bar and a pairof downwardly directed legs fixed at their bottom end respectively tothe lower frame portion 2 Also, the lower frame portion 2 fixedlycarries a front vertical frame member 5 substantially cylindrical withthe frame member 4 and also fixed at its bottom ends to the frame member2. A pair of side bars 6 are respec tively located at opposite sides ofthe carriage means 1, and each side bar is welded at one end to a leg ofmemher 4 and at its oppositeend to a leg of member 5. A .pair of sidebars 7 are also respectively located at opposite sides of the carriagemeans, and each of these side bars is welded at one end to a leg offrame member and at an opposite end to the upwardly directed member, 3.These members 3 are interconnected at their top ends by a horizontal rod8 which is fixed at its opposite ends to the tubular members 3 withoutextending into the same. A substantially U-shaped handle member 9 has atop cross bar located at a higher elevation than the rod 8 and extendingacross the entire carriage means as well as apair of legs extendingslidably into the tubes 3, respectively. This interconnection of thedownwardly directed legs of handle 9 with the tubes 3 forms an adjustingmeans for adjusting the elevation of the handle 9 so that the device canbe comfortably operated by operators of different heights, and thisadjusting means further includes pairs of aligned openings at the topend portion of each member 3 adapted to be selectively aligned with atransverse bore in each leg of the member 9 with pins 10 respectivelypassing through these bores and the pairs of aligned openings of thetubes 3 for releasably holding the handle 9 at a selected elevation.

A pair of bars 11 are located between frame member 5 and the upwardlydirected tubes 3 with each bar 11 fixed as by welding at one end to aleg of member 5 and at an opposite'end to a member 3, these bars 11being located at the same elevation and respectively carrying coaxialbearings for a pair of coaxial axle portions 12 rotatably supported inthis way by the pair of bars 11 and cooperating to form the only axlemeans of the carriage means 1.

These axle portions 12, which are restrained by any suitable collars orthe like against axial movement, fixedly 4 inder 17 so that the lattercannot become soiled at its end edges with bitumen or the like.

As may be seen from FIG. 5, each central portion 15 of the bars 14 isformed with an upwardly directed notch 53 extending from the bottom edgeof each bar 14 and receiving one of the shafts 16. Associated with eachcentral portion 15 of each bar 14 is a means which permits the rollcarrying means to be easily and quickly assembled with the bearing arms14 which rotatably support the roll carrying means 16-20 but whichprevents the roll carrying means from being disconnected from the bars14 without certain manipulations by the operator. Thus, as may be seenfrom FIG. 5, each portion 15 fixedly carries a bracket 54 which in turnfixedly carries a relatively strong leaf spring 55 extending downwardlyfrom the bracket and fixedly carrying at its bottom end a wedgeshapedcatch member 56 which engages the underside of each stub shaft 16 tomaintain the latter rotatably in the notch 53. It is apparent that whenthe roll carrying means with a roll of paper or the like thereon is tobe connected to the carriage means 1, it is only necessary to move theend shafts 16 of the roll carrying means up- 7 Wardly into the notches53, respectively, and these shafts carry wheels 13, respectively, whichare preferably provided with air tires. Thus, the wheels 13 and axleportions 12 rotate together during movement of the carriage meansandform' the single wheel-carrying axle means of the device. Thesewheels are adapted to ride on the surface to be covered.

A pair of elongated bars 14 are respectively located at the oppositesides of the carriage means 1 and extend along the top surface of thelower frame portion 2, each bar 14 being fixed as by welding at one endto a leg of frame member 4 and at an opposite end to a leg offramemember 5. Each bar 14 is provided with an inwardly bent centralportion 15, as shown most clearly in FIG. 5, and these central portions15 serve as bearings for the roll-carrying means 16, 17. This latterroll carrying means 16, 17 serves to carry a roll of a sheet to beapplied to the surface to be covered, and part of such a roll isindicated in FIG. 1. The roll carrying means includes a pair of endjournals 16 and an elongated cylinder 17, the latter directly carryingthe roll of paper and being formed with an unillustrated axial slotwhich serves to connect the roll of paper to the cylinder 17.

As may be seen from FIG. 4, in addition to the end stub shafts 16, theroll carrying means includes an elongated tube 19 which receives theends of the shafts 16 which are directed toward each other, and the endsof the tube 19 are respectively welded to a pair of annular dishedmembers '18 which are respectively fixed to'the shafts 16 around whichthe rings 18 respectively extend. The tube 19 extends coaxially throughand beyond the cylinder 17 and fixedly carries at its outer surface aplurality of radially positioned rigid plates 20 distributedcircumferentially about and longitudinally along the tube 19. The outerends of the plates 20 are fixed as by welding to the inner surface ofthe hollow cylinder 17, so that in this way a rigid roll carrying meansis provided. The cylinder 17 has a length which is somewhat shorter thanthe width of the sheet rolled onto the cylinder 17 and the ends of thissheet extend beyond the ends of the cylwill displace the catch members56 against the force of the leaf springs 55, these catch membersautomatically snapping back to their operating positions beneath theshafts 16 when the latter have been moved sufficiently into the notches53, respectively. Then the roll carrying means is rotatably supported bythe carriage means 1. Each leaf spring 55 has a rod 57 fixedly connectedthereto so that whenever it is desired to remove the roll carrying meansthe operator can engage the rods 57 to turn the catch members 56 awayfrom their positions beneath the shafts 16 so as to release the rollcarrying means.

The bottom frame portion 2 of the carriage means 1 includes at thetrailing end of the carriage means a cross bar 29. A pressing means isconnected to the trailing end portion of the carriage means for pressingdownwardly on a sheet immediately after it has been applied to a surfaceto be covered. This pressing means includes an elongated rod 22extending transversely across the carriage means and being substantiallyparallel to the bar 29. This rod 22 is fixedly connected at its ends toa pair of arms 21, respectively, which form parts of a pair of hellcranks pivotally connected by a pair of pivot pins 81, respectively, tothe sides of frame portion 2 adjacent to the rear bar 29 thereof. Thesebell cranks respectively include upwardly directed arms 82 which arerespectively connected with springs 83. These springs are also connectedwith a pair of upwardly directed rigid members 84 fixed as by welding tothe top surface of cross bar 29 at the ends of the latter so that thesprings 83 urge the bell cranks 80 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 10, and in this way the rod 22 is urged downwardly towardthe surface on which the carriage means 1 rides. The rigid member 84fixedly carry a pairof stop members 85, respectively, which have bottomends directed toward the arms 21 and respectively engaging the latter tolimit the clockwise turning of the bell crank 80 to the position ofthese bell cranks indicated in FIG. 10.

The pressing means at the trailing end portion of the carnage means 1further includes a series of pressing rolls 23 respectively formed withaxial bores 23 through which the rod 22 freely passes. These bores 23'have a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the rod 22for a purpose described below. As is apparent from FIG. 2 each of thepressing rolls 23 has a cylindrical exterior surface and a pair of endfaces which intersect the cylindrical surface at circular rounded edges24 at the ends of each roll 23. In this way a sheet engaged by thepressing rolls will not be pinched between a pair of these rolls. Suchpinching and undesirable creasing of the sheet might occur if the rollshad sharp end edges.

Referring to FIG. 1, the parts are shown therein in the position theytake when the roll carried by the roll carrying means has been used uptosuch an extent that the bell cranks 80 have the angular positionindicated in FIG. 10. However, it is apparent from FIG. 1 that when theroll of paper is thicker than shown in FIG. 1 the frame portion 2 willbe directed upwardly to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the weight ofthe entire carriage means will be carried in part by the wheel carryingaxle means 12, 13 and in part by the roll of paper itself. In fact thecenter of gravity of the entire device is arranged relatively close tothe roll carrying means 1620 so that the paper is urged downwardlyagainst the surface to be covered not only by its own weight and theweight of the roll carrying means 16*, but also by a considerable partof the Weight of the carriage means itself.

Furthermore, it will be noted that when the roll of paper is thickerthan shown in FIG. 1 so that the frame portion 2 extends upwardly to theleft, as viewed in FIG. 1, the arms 21 are spaced below the bottom endsof the stop members 85 and the springs 83 urge the rod 22 downwardlytoward the paper which has just unrolled from the roll on the rollcarrying means, this paper unrolling automatically during movement ofthe carriage means forwardly, which is to the right, as viewed in FIG.1, so that at least some of the pressing rolls 23 are urged by thespring means 83 against the surface of the sheet which has just beenunrolled. The upper surface of the sheet engaged by the series ofpressing rolls 23 is generally irregular so that it has high spots andlow spots. Those rolls 23 which happen to engage the high spots will beacted upon by the springs 83 while the other rolls 23 will press simplywith their own weight on the sheet, and this result is brought about bythe bores 23 which are substantially larger in diameter than the rod 22.

As the roll of paper or the like carried by the roll carrying meanscontinues to be unrolled during forward movement of the carriage means,the thickness of the roll diminishes and the bell crank 80 continuouslyturns in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10. When the roll hasbeen almost entirely consumed so that the parts have the position shownin "FIG. 1 the arms 21 engage the stops 85 and beyond this point thepressing rolls 23 serve to support the carriage means together with thewheel carrying axle means 12, 13. Only during the final unrolling of thetrailing end of the sheet is the carriage means 1 supported in part bythe pressing rolls 23 which at this time still operate to press thesheet against the surface being covered. At all other times, when theroll is thicker than shown in FIG. 1, the major part of the weight ofthe carriage means presses down on the shafts 16 so that a strongpressure applies the sheet against the surface to be covered at theinstant when the sheet contacts this surface, and this is true of almostthe entire length of the sheet. As may be seen from FIG. 2 the pressingrolls 23 are relatively close to each other and extend across the entirewidth of the sheet to press the sheet against the surface to be coveredimmediately after the sheet has contacted the surface to be covered sothat these pressing rolls in addition to providing a secure bond betweenthe sheet and the surface it covers also smooth out wrinkles, if any.

A feeler means engages the rolled sheet at a portion thereof locatedjust ahead of a portion of the sheet which is heated in a mannerdescribed below, and this feeler means is formed by a series of rollers28 (FIG. 1) turnably supported by a rod 27 which is carried at its endsby a pair of arms 26 extending upwardly from the ends of the rod 27 atthe sides of the carriage means, respectively. These arms 26 form an armmeans which carries the feeler means 28, and the arms 26 are pivotallyconnected by pivot pins 25 to the rear ends of the bars 6, as may beseen from FIG. 1. A spring means 30 in the form of a pair of springs 30urges the arms 26 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, so asto maintain the rollers 28 in engagement with the exterior surface ofthe roll of paper during the unrolling of the latter. The springs 30 areconnected at one end to the arms 26, respectively, and at their oppositeend to the cross bar 29. I

A second arm means 32 is provided to support a heating means 33described below. This second arm means is in the form of a pair of arms32 pivotally connected at 31 to the bars 7, respectively, and havingtheir bottom ends connected with the heating means v33 in a mannerdescribed below so as to carry the heating means 33.

This heating means 33 is in the form of an elongated hollow burner tubeformed with a series of burner openings 34 shown in FIG. 2. As isapparent from FIG. 1, as the sheet is continuously unrolled it has atany given instant a surface portion located adjacent and directeddownwardly toward a portion of the surface to be covered and about tomove into contact with this portion of the surface to be covered, thisportion of the sheet and the surface to be covered defining betweenthemselves a gap which closes at the point of contact between the sheetand the surface to be covered and toward which the openings '34 of theburner tube 33 are directed so that the heating means serves tosimultaneously heat a portion of the surface to be covered and a portionof the sheet just before these portions contact each other. A flexibleconduit means 37 communicates with the heating means 33 for supplying tothe latter a combustible fluid which can be ignited at the openings 34and which escapes through the openings 34 to be burned at theseopenings, and in this way heat is applied to the sheet as well as thesurface covered thereby. The combustible fluid may take the form of aliquefied gas or a combustible liquid.

In the illustrated example a pair of conduits 37 branch from adistributor valve 35 to spaced portions of the tube 33 so as toguarantee distribution of the combustible fluid along the entire lengthof the heating means. The wall of the heating means which is formed withopenings 34 fixedly carries at its exterior surface spaced members 36 inthe form of channels of substantially U-shaped cross section which coveropenings '34 so that these openings are arranged in groups separated bythe members 36. As a result longitudinal portions of the sheet which arelaterally spaced from each other and respectively aligned with themembers 36 will not be heated and thus will not adhere to the surface tobe covered. A means is provided for removably connecting the heatingmeans 33 to the arm means '32 which carries the same so that one heatingmeans may be exchanged for another, and this arrangement enables aheating means which is particularly suited [for a particular job to beconnected with the carriage means. An additional valve means 38 islocated downstream of the distributor valve 35 for con-- trolling theflow of combustible fluid through the conduits 37, and each conduit 37may be associated with a separate ignition circuit for igniting thecombustible fluid after it flows through each conduit 37 into theheatingmeans 33.

Beneath the bars 7 are respectively located a pair of bars 41 each ofwhichis connected as by welding at one end to a leg of frame member 5and at an opposite end to one of the members 3. A shaft 40extends-between and is turnably supported by the bars 41, and thisshaft- 40 is fixedly connected adjacent the bars 41 to a pair ofeccentric discs 39 which are fixed at portions adjacent theirperipheries to the shaft 49. A pair of handle members 52 are fixed tothe shaft 40 for turning the latter manually. The discs 39 arerespectively in the same planes as the arms 32 and when the shaft 46 isturned the discs 39 will have their peripheries brought into contactwith the arms 32 to turn the latter in a counterclock wise direction, asviewed in FIG. 1, so that in this way the heating means 33 will beturned away from the heating position thereof indicated in FIG. 1 andthus itis possible to space the heating means from the roll of paperwhen the combustible fluid is first ignited, for example, or to exchangeone heating means for another- Duiing operation the eccentric discs 39are out of con tact with the arms 32 and in no way influence the latter.A motion transmitting means inter-connects the arm ineans 26 with thearm means 32 so that turning movement of the arm means 26 will betransmitted to the arm means 32. This motion transmitting means includesa pair of connectingrods 42 respectively connected pivotally at one endto the bars 26 and at an opposite end to the bars 32. Thus, turningmovement of the arms 26 will be transmitted through the bars 42 .to thearms 32. As the thickness of the roll diminishes during unrollingthereof, the feeler means 28 together with the arm means 32 will turn ina clockwise direction, as viewed in FiG. 1, and the arms 42 willtransmit this movement to the arms 32 so that the latter willsimultaneously turn in a clockwise direction, and the parts are sodesigned that the heating means 33 will in this way remain at all .timesat the same distance from the exterior surface of the sheet duringunrolling of the latter so that uniform heat ing is guaranteed.

Preferably the elongated heating means 33 is angularly adjustable aboutits axis so that the angle of the burner openings 34 can be regulated.For this purpose (FIGS. 6-9) the end walls the heating means 33 isprovided with respectively fixedly carry a pair of stub shafts 58 whichare coaxial with each other and which respectively fixedly carry attheir outer ends a pair of collars 59. The bottom ends of the arms 32fixedly carry stub shafts 60 which are respectively directed toward andaligned coaxially with the stub shafts 58 when the burner means isconnected with the carriagemeans. These stu-b shafts 60 respectively(fixedly carry at their ends nearest to shafts 58 collars 61. While thecollars 61 are of uniform thickness so that the end faces thereof are inparallel planes, each collar 59 has its annular end face which isdirected away from the adjacent collar 66 formed with a pair of helicalsteps each of which extends through approximately 180 with the thickestend of one step located next to the end of the next step which has theleast thickness. These stepped surfaces are indicated at 67 and act asWedges. The face of each collar 59 which is directed toward the adjacentcollar 61 is flat. Each col lar 59 is formed with a pair ofdiametrically opposed notches 62 passing axially theret-hrough at theportions of least thickness thereof, and each collar 61 is formed with apair of notches 63 adapted to be respectively aligned with the notches62 during assembly of the heating means with the carriage means. A ring64 surrounds each pair of cooperating collars 59 and 61. At its rightside, as viewed in FIGS. 79, the ring 64 is formed with a pair ofinwardly directed opposed teeth 65 which move through the alignednotches 62 and 63 during shifting movement (if the ring 64 to the rightfrom the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 7. At its side opposite fromthe teeth 65 the ring 64 is provided with an inwardly directed annularflange 66 which engages the left end face of the collar 61 when the ring64 is shifted from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 7. With thering 64 in the position of FIG. 7 and the teeth 65 located at the partsof collar 59 which are of least thickness, the heating means 33 can beturned about its axis together with the rings 64 to set the angle of theburner openings 34, and then the ring 64 is turned with respect to theheating means so that the teeth 65 engage the wedge surfaces 67 to fixthe heating means to the arms 32 in the adjusted angular position. It isonly to turn the rings 64 back to their starting position to loosen thecon nection so as to permit further adjustment of the angle of theheating means, if necessary, and then the rings 64 can again betightened. Of course, the notches 62 must be turned into alignment withthe notches 63 before the ring 64 can be shifted from the position ofFIG. 7 to that of FIG. 8 to permit one heating means to be exchanged foranother. Each ring 64 is provided at its outer surface with projections68 which provide a secure grip for the operator.

Thus, the structure shown in FIGS. 6-9 and described above provides ameans for releasably connecting the heating means 33 with the carriagemeans 1 and for adjusting the angle of the heating means.

Furthermore, as may be seen from FIG. 1, the arm means 32 together withthe arm means 26, the motion transmitting means 42, and the feeler means23 form a means responsive to the constantly diminishing thickness ofthe roll of paper for automatic-ally maintaining the heating means 33 atthe same distance from the exterior surface of the roll during theunrolling thereof.

As was pointed out above, the burner openings 34 are separated byelements 36 into groups which cause only longitudinally extendingportions of the sheet to be heated. An additional means is provided forperiodically interrupting the heating of the sheet during the unrollingthereof, so that as a result spaced rectangular portions of the sheetare heated. This interrupting means includes the screen 45 which isshown in FIG. 1 between the heating means 3-3 and the roll carryingmeans. When the screen 45 has the position shown in FIG. 1 it willprevent the heat from reaching the rolled sheet. This screen 45 iscarried by a pair of levers 44 pivotally supported respectively on apair of pivot pins 43 fixedly carried by the legs of frame member 5adjacent the bottom ends of these legs. The right free ends of thelevers 44 respectively rotatably carry rollers 47 which form camfollowers and which respectively cooperate with a pair of cams 46respectively fixed to the axle portions 12 for rotation therewith. Apair of springs 48 are connected with the levers 44, respectively aswell as with the bottom portions of tubes 3 so as to maintain the camfollowers 47 in engagement with the cam-s 46. Therefore, during movementof the carriage means 1 the earns 46 will move through a completerevolution during each revolution of the wheels 13 and as a result thescreen 45 wiil interrupt the heating of the sheet once during eachrevolution of the wheels 13. The result is that the sheet which coversthe surface to which it adheres has intersecting parallel portions whichdo not adhere to the covered surface and form with the latter channelsthrough which air may pass for cooling purposes, for example.

The frame members 4 and 5 of the carriage means 1 fixedly carry betweenthemselves and at an elevation substantially higher than the lower frameportion 2 a framework 49 which carries a container 50 for thecombustible fluid. A conduit 51 leads from the container 50 to thedistributor valve 35 so that the fluid flows from container 50 throughconduit 51 and then through valve 35 and 38 to the conduits 37.

The members 36 may, for example, have a length of 10 cm. so that theunheated longitudinal portions of the sheet are 10 cm. wide, and thedevice may include three members 36 spaced from each other along theheating means.

The sheet which is in the form of a roll on the roll carrying means maybe a conventional tar paper or roofing paper provided at one or both ofits surfaces with a coating of a suitable pitch or adhesive such asbitumen so that when this coating is heated by the heating means it willadhere to the surface to be covered. A first layer of this paper usuallyforms with its upper exposed surface the first surface to be covered,and this upper surface has a coating of bitumen or the like. Then asecond layer covers the upper surface of the first layer in the mannerdescribed above with the process and apparatus of the present invention,and the bitumen coatings on the surface to be covered as well as thesurface of the covering sheet are simultaneously heated in the mannerdescribed above.

All intermediate sheets of roofing paper have these adwhich is directeddownwardly to be joined to the next lower sheet.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofsheet applying processes and apparatus differing from the typesdescribed above.

,While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inadhesive sheet applying processes and apparatus, it is not intended tobe limited to the details shown, since various modifications andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A process for covering and insulating substantially horizontalsurfaces of a building or the like with a web of insulating materialhaving a bitumen covered surface which adheres to the surface to becovered after both surfaces are heated, comprising the steps ofsupporting the web of insulating material in roll form directly on thesurface to be covered so that a portion of the bitumen covered surfaceof the roll rests on the latter surface; rolling the roll of insulatingmaterial along the surface to be covered so as to unroll the web ofinsulating material and so that the rolled web of insulating materialhas at any instant during the unrolling thereof a bitumen coveredsurface portion directed toward and about to engage a surface portion ofthe surface to be covered; and continuously heating both of said surfaceportions during the unrolling of the web of insulating material so thatthe surfaces are at elevated temperatures at the moment of contact witheach other.

2. A process for covering and insulating a fiat roof with tar paper,comprising the steps of placing a roll of tar paper having a bitumencovered surface on the roof surface to be covered with a portion of thebitumen covered surface of the roll resting on the roof surface; rollingthe roll of tar paper along the roof surface so as to unroll said tarpaper unto said roof surface to be covered; and continuously heatingsurface portions of the roof and bitumen covered surface portions of thetar paper roll shortly before the surface portions come in contact witheach other during unrolling of the tar paper on the roof surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS929,559 Coe July 27, 1909 954,644 McLaurin Apr. 12, 1910 993,131 WaltonMay 23, 1911 1,190,257 Henderson July 4, 1916 1,278,272 Wilson Sept. 10,1918 1,752,139 Anderson Mar. 25, 1930 1,874,224 Barnett et al Aug. 30,1932 2,147,817 Johnson Feb. 21, 1939 2,235,704 Gorbatenko et a1 May 18,1941 2,373,239 Fenn Apr. 10, 1945 2,898,825 Walker et a1 Aug. 11,

1. A PROCESS FOR COVERING AND INSULATING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALSURFACES OF A BUILDING OR THE LIKE WITH A WEB OF INSULATING MATERIALHAVING A BITUMEN COVERED AFTER BOTH WHICH ADHERES TO THE SURFACE TO BECOVERED AFTER BOTH SURFACES ARE HEATEDM COMPRISING THE STEPS OFSUPPORTING THE WEB OF INSULATING MATERIAL IN ROLL FORM DIRECTLY ON THESURFACE TO BE COVERED SO THAT A PORTION OF THE BITUMEN COVERED SURFACEOF THE ROLL RESTS ON THE LATTER SURFACE; ROLLING THE ROLL OF INSULATINGMATERIAL ALONG THE SURFACE TO BE COVERED SO AS TO UNROLL THE WEB OFINSULAATING MATERIAL AND SO THAT THE ROLLED WEB OF INSULATING MATERIALHAS AT ANY INSTANT DURING THE UNROLLING THEREOF A BITUMEN COVEREDSURFACE PORTION DIRECTED TOWARD AND ABOUT TO ENGAGE A SURFACE PORTION OFTHE SURFACE TO BE COVERED; AND CONTINUOUSLY HEATING BOTH OF SAID SURFACEPORTIONS DURING THE UNROLLING OF THE WEB OF INSULATING MATERIAL SO THATTHE SURFACES ARE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AT THE MOMENT OF CONTACT WITHEACH OTHER.